Ningax is a sealant made from specific plant barks like sisal (Agave sisalana) known as calga in Somali and qaranri whose botanical name is Acokanthera schimperi. Dhuur (Tamaria aphylla) could also be used as a substitute. Extracted from the bovine milk of cloven-hooved ungulates, ghee is a special type of butter whose production, though specific to the Somali female, is time-consuming.
The coating-like Ningax is placed between the lid cover and the main container that contains the milk mainly to control liquid spill. It is a flimsy or very thin layer of yarn that is temporary or one-time use and then discarded afterwards. It requires continuous shaking of the milk container over an extended time to get the exact quantity.
Having Ningax alone is not enough to stop milk spillage. Together with a Futi or Futey, depending on Somali accent, helps alleviate milk loss. Unlike Ningax, Futi or Futey can be made from any material such as a piece of cloth, and imperishable leaves or twigs. Usually, Futi is squeezed on the top of the lid having a little hole for releasing the air that accumulates inside the container.
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